First steps

I MUST stop, I have an amazing girlfriend, an amazing family and a decent job, and I am trying to throw it all away by continuing this foolish game.

I have had a gambling problem since university 8 years ago, starting killing times in between lectures, social gambling whilst watching the game, it wasn’t long until I was taking it too far.

I have hit rock bottom 3 times since going down a path that I can’t stop from hitting that magical. “ 0 funds available”

This most recent event has been the worse, I was gamble free for 9 months. Then the foolish thought that everyone gets” I can control it to a 5ver on the football”

That was July, now I’m coming up to xmas with 0 money for the next 2 weeks. 0 presents bought Savings gone and 6 grand in debt. I managed to set up a payment plan for these so that I could manange to scrap something up for xmas but I’ve threw it all away and can’t even make the payment.

How do people recover from this? I can’t put my family through this again. Sometimes I wish I was an alcoholic or on drugs as that is a lot harder to hide,

writing this has helped, I know there is a way to get out of this and I need to understand that I will always have this but saying NO In my head every 5 minutes gets tiring, what do people do to stop this

I’ve just signed up here today. I’ve. Been gambling for nearly 18 years, I started when I was 16, im 34 this month. When I realised I had a problem I tried fooling myself, I’ll only do a bet at the big meetings, I’ll only do a £2 placepot on horses. Never happened. Then the online slots promised big winnings, they never happened either. I’m in thousands of debt, I’ve lost my long term relationship with my girlfriend along with my house, all because of my gambling. This might be your first step but keep at it, you’ve got a lot more to lose through gambling in the long term than you might realise right now.

I’ve joined today in same position, wife and child and hit my third relapse hard after over a year bet free, we can get through this , we need to take all the help and support, give ur wife/partner full control of finances which I have had to do this week, and just think positive. I’m waiting on the councilling now , maybe you can take that route